Midwives Improve Lives for Mothers and Children

Apr 20, 2012

In 2008, when the maternal and child health and preventive health program began, a survey showed that three quarters of the women and children in the villages covered by the program were up to date in their vaccines.

The survey also showed that midwives were a great resource already in the villages and could, with training and support, greatly contribute to enhancing the quality of health care received by pregnant women, newborns, and children.

Over the three years of the program, 259 midwives were supported in their work and were able to reach out to 11,000 women, children, and newborns.

The midwives accompanied pregnant women, ensuring that they visited health clinics at least twice during the pregnancy and that they and their newborns visited a medical unit within 48 hours of birth.